Along with current industrial automation, terminologies like ‘Cobot’ are becoming more prevalent in the digital sphere. You might often be wondering what exactly are cobots?
Well, ever since the Industrial Revolution has taken place, robots have replaced the role of humans in dangerous and important production occupations. However, they did so while following safety regulations. Collaborative robots, AKA, Cobots, eliminate a number of the potential environmental and spatial hazards that traditional robots may present. In fact, this innovation enables cobots to function alongside people. They connect with people more naturally, operate in the same place as humans, and can be effortlessly reprogrammed.
Moving forward, robots are making their way from confined and fixed workstations to working with people closely. Changing from heavy-duty industrial uses to tasks like helping others and improving abilities is another mind-blowing benefit that Cobots offer. Collaborative robots are revolutionizing how humans and robots interact in the manufacturing sector. The best part is, cobots are becoming increasingly popular among businesses of all shapes and sizes, and it makes sense for them to do so. Speaking of the profits of adopting Cobots, the manufacturing sector’s productivity has been rising dramatically in recent years. Undoubtedly, using cobots is one of the ideal approaches to boost productivity.
Benefits Of Adopting Cobots In The Workplace
Business in the twenty-first century is fiercely competitive. As a result, lagging behind the competition could spell disaster for an organization. In addition to numerous other advantages, collaborative robots can help enterprises operate more efficiently. That said, this blog will outline 11 benefits of cobots and process automation. Have a look!
1. Quick installation
The installation of a robot typically requires a few days, or weeks, before it is operational. On the other hand, deploying a cobot only takes half an hour. Owing to the user-friendly software, a cobot can finish its first task in just an hour. As a result, a cobot can be used as a contract worker or flexible worker who can carry out various activities in several departments without worrying about the installation speed.
2. Swift programming
Traditional robots may just execute one activity and require a great deal of programming expertise and time. However, unlike typical industrial robots, cobots are simple to configure. Cobots are capable of learning new skills! Thanks to user-friendly software and mobile applications. A cobot can also be manually placed in the desired positions. Later, those positions are saved in the program. A cobot may be swiftly integrated into a process and is capable of accomplishing multiple activities because it requires simple programming.
3. Adaptable to various departments
As stated earlier, a cobot is a versatile robot. Hence, it’s easy to give it new duties to perform. A cobot may accomplish the same goal for a 40-hour workweek while also carrying out a new objective each day. You may, for instance, search every day for areas of the process of production where the robot might be useful. This adaptability also enables the temporary employment of a cobot. For instance, hiring a cobot for 2 weeks is more feasible than hiring an individual for two weeks when you think your production is at its peak.
4. More efficient and precise than humans
Cobots are much more accurate than humans. Let’s take the example of Franka Emika Panda, a cobot that can execute tasks with a precision of 0.1 mm. A cobot will also always do duties with the exact same power and will not stray from its course of action. For instance, while tightening screws, the very same pressure and tension will be used, ensuring high-quality consistency. Needless to say, machines hold a higher accuracy power than humans. Although manual and human touch is necessary and undeniable, the efficiency and precision that Cobots offer cannot be understated. Adopting Cobots in the Workplace can help organizations make efficient and precise decisions.
5. Beneficial impact on workers
Bear in mind that a cobot is made to work alongside people, not to take the place of people. Cobots, often known as people-focused robots, can enhance and improve the work that humans do. Cobots can carry out dirty, dangerous, dull, tedious, or repetitive activities, freeing up humans’ attention for more important ones. You might think of quality assurance and upkeep, but you might also consider working with a cobot to assemble a product. For instance, if the cobot might screw a product, humans can finish it off by taking one step earlier.
6. Workers are happier at their jobs
Employees will love their work better when they are assisted in the activities they undertake. Robots will handle the tedious job, freeing up humans to complete their tasks in a “human” manner, and tasks that need a greater emphasis on initiative, originality, and a solution-oriented approach. Robots help to create a desirable workplace in this sense. In the long run, this implies less absenteeism, more employee participation, work enrichment, higher degree of job satisfaction, and a commitment to employees’ personal growth.
7. Greater Efficiency and Robot-Human Interaction
In a conventional assembly line setup, human employees load the essential parts onto mechanical robots, and the robots take over the remainder of the task. If human interference is necessary, either the entire manufacturing process must be stopped, or it will take a while for the machines to complete the production. Efficiency is considerably boosted because people and robots work together in the same place while using collaborative robots. The most evident advantage is this one. In a study done at a BMW facility by MIT researchers, collaborative teams of robots and humans were found to be more prolific than squads of either people or robots alone. In actuality, using a robot to assist in tasks reduced the human idle time by 85%.
8. Suitable for Small-to-Medium Sized Manufacturers
It’s a common misconception that robots are only practical or beneficial for huge industrial businesses. However, that’s just not the scenario anymore. Today, small to midsize businesses can also deploy automated equipment. Thanks to the intelligent and approachable collaborative robots. Cobots with their numerous industrial applications, such as assembling, loading/unloading, packing, filtering, dispensing, sanding, and polishing, can be advantageous for these smaller businesses. These kinds of applications and procedures will remain profitable as collaborative robots are used by businesses of all sizes.
Although a robotics-centered approach is usually chosen by larger enterprises with higher production volumes, small and medium-sized businesses typically continue with manual labor to reduce costs. But, the situation is no more the same regarding Cobots. The majority of collaborative robots are versatile enough to adapt to various outputs and don’t need a lengthy setup process.
9. Greater ROI
Industries with cobots installed have higher levels of productivity, flexibility, and profitability. This naturally ensures a larger ROI. Cobots can be freely positioned wherever organizations feel the need to. Simply put, cobots can be moved and placed whenever and wherever necessary. As a result, this eliminates any unproductive actions during the working hours. Overall, this raises ROI. Organizations receive a wider profit margin when they experience a massive reduction in labor and maintenance expenses.
10. Limitless Potential
The development of collaborative robots is only getting started. It’s tough to predict what our jobs will be in the long run in fully autonomous manufacturing applications. Today, collaborative robot sales currently account for 5% of the total robot market. As more engineers and manufacturers have access to cobots, this number is anticipated to expand tremendously.
11. Safely Complete Difficult and Risky Tasks
Collaborative robots carry out difficult and dangerous activities that regular robots or humans are unable to do in situations where survival and intricacy are of utmost importance. The collaborative robots business is leading with applications like stabilizing the movement of surgical equipment or lab activities to avoid human mistakes from creating undesired motion.
This opens the door for mankind to count on the advantages that robots already possess while advancing risky and sophisticated tactics. Each of these units is extensively inspected for safety as soon as it leaves the assembly line because cobots are created with human interaction and collaboration in mind. Cobots make the workplace safer because they can manage and complete activities without committing errors in situations when a human error could slow down progress.
Wrapping It Up
Collaborative robots will be a key component of the upcoming industrialization. Cobots are the way of the future! Speaking of the organization and workplace, the employment of Cobots in production has reaped tremendous benefits. It is anticipated that the workplace will inevitably become more automated in the long run.
Nonetheless, it is challenging to predict what human roles will look like in ten or twenty years when machines take control. Cobots, however, combine the output of both machines and humans in a productive, efficient, and a smart manner! At present, it will be a smart move to make the utmost use of the advanced innovation and boost your organizational productivity and efficiency.
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